Preterm Newborn Adaptive Responses to Daily Nursing during Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Stay, Associate with Neurodevelopment, 2 Years Later

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate if adaptive responses of very preterm newborns to NICU daily nursing, specifically bathing and weighing procedures, are associated with their neurodevelopment two years later. Study design: Twenty-six very preterm newborns, with a gestational age < 32 weeks, were enrolled. Infants' adaptive responses to daily nursing were evaluated, at 30-32-35 postmenstrual age (PMA) weeks, by an observational sheet. Neurodevelopment was assessed, at 24 months of corrected age, by the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, third edition. Autonomic, motor, and self-regulatory responses to NICU nursing were analyzed, by Spearman's correlation coefficient and multivariate linear regression, with Bayley’s cognitive, language, and motor scales. Results: Significant (P < 0.05) positive correlations of self-regulatory and autonomic responses to nursing with all Bailey’s scales were found at 30- and 32-weeks PMA. At 35 weeks PMA, only self-regulatory responses had significant positive correlations with all Bailey’s scales. When adjusted for birth weight and sex, the significant associations were confirmed only at 30- and 32-weeks PMA. Conclusion: Very preterm newborn adaptive responses to NICU daily nursing reveal to be positively related to forthcoming neurodevelopment two years later, as early as the 30th week PMA. Helping preterm babies to adapt to daily NICU nursing may promote their future neurobeahaviour.